View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who recommended the school that Kihika attended as a child?

2. What does Gikonyo invest his money in in "Chapter 6"?

3. What does the legend of Waiyaki say about his death?

4. What country does the narrator say Kihika compared Kenya to?

5. What work did Van Dyke do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Gikonyo do in Nairobi in "Chapter 6"?

2. What happens when Karanja visits Mrs. Thomspon in "Chapter 4"?

3. In "Chapter 2," what explanation is given for the Movement?

4. How does the narrator say Wambui avoided getting in trouble with officials in "Chapter 3"?

5. In "Chapter 6," what things does Gikonyo confess to Mugo?

6. In "Chapter 2," how do Kenyans feel about women rulers?

7. How does Gikonyo's father throwing him and his mother out change him?

8. In "Chapter 1", what happens when Mugo wakes up?

9. What leads to Kihika's death?

10. In "Chapter 7," what does the narrator say about Mumbi's feelings toward the Movement?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the symbolism of land, especially farmland.

Essay Topic 2

Gikonyo's story is considered tragic by the narrator. Is Gikonyo tragic? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

What is the role of religion in "A Grain of Wheat"? Especially consider the Christianity white men bring to Kenya.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 629 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample